Let me just get this out of the way. French fries are great in any form, and I've got no beef with onion rings.

But only one deep-fried side dish can sit on the throne, and that deep-fried side dish is the tater tot.

Fries make a meal, but tater tots make it a party. Crispy, fluffy and sometimes loaded, the tater tot is the rebellious potato product that doesn't care if you just sprinkle it with sea salt or slather it in Sriracha. It just wants to see you smile.

With so much magic in every bite, it's no surprise that Napoleon Dynamite kept a pocket full on deck.

That's why I've decided to compile my list of the top five spots for tots in the Indianapolis area. But I need to make one thing perfectly clear: There's no such thing as bad tots. Just tots in need of a little more TLC.

So with that in mind, what are your favorite local takes on the world champion of entree add-ons? Let us know in the comments, and spread the love.

And now, bring on the tots, in no particular order.

Sriracha Blue Tots from Clustertruck

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Loaded and spicy. A great combo.(Photo: Stephen J. Beard/IndyStar)

First off, shout out to Clustertruck for offering a lot of options. But having your tots brought right to your door is a major key.

I've never had a bad tot from the Downtown food-delivery service, but the top choice in my opinion is Sriracha Blue Tots. There are a lot of loaded potato options out there, but this isn't the usual cheese and bacon mash-up.

Cajun tater tots from Local Eatery & Pub

Chances are if you've talked to someone who has stopped by Local Eatery & Pub in Westfield, they've raved about the tots. And for good reason. They're made fresh, and they're an awesome combination of crispy and fluffy.

If you're looking to add a little kick to your taters, go Cajun when you order. It adds a nice punch without drowning out the natural flavor of the potato in unbearable heat.

Chicken tachos from Kilroy's

This is what I call a destination tot. Once you've wrangled with the Kilroy's chicken tachos, you'll always remember it. But it is not for the faint of heart. These things are massive, and when topped with queso, salsa and sour cream, they transcend side item or starter into something greater.

Sweet potato tots from Punch Burger

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A change of pace when you stuff your face. Bars.(Photo: Stephen J. Beard/IndyStar)

Who doesn't love salty and sweet? Well, the sweet potato tots from Punch Burger deliver that in a compact package. And unlike the kind of sweet potato tots you might find in the freezer section of the grocery store, these offer the same kind of crispy satisfaction as standard tots.

Serve these instead of your cousin's bland sweet potatoes during Thanksgiving and win the holidays.

Order of large tots from King David Dogs

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No gimmicks. Just really good tots.(Photo: Stephen J. Beard/IndyStar)

The classic. These aren't smothered or loaded or fusioned or any of that. But the tots from King David Dogs are exactly what pop into your head as soon as you hear someone utter the words tater tots.

For bonus points, order the Reuben dog and dip your tots in some of the thousand island dressing and swiss that falls out of the bun. Perfection.

So that's the list. And if you are going out to grab some tater tots from your favorite spot, remember to share.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138 or email him at justin.mack@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.